ORLANDO, Fla. — Americans for Fair Treatment presented its inaugural AFFT 2026 Worker Freedom Awards to Utah state Rep. Jordan Teuscher and Iowa state Sen. Adrian Dickey during the American Legislative Exchange Council conference in Orlando.
AFFT CEO Chip Rogers personally presented the awards, which recognize state leaders who champion legislation protecting the First Amendment rights of public-sector workers.
“This year, AFFT is proud to present its inaugural Worker Freedom Award, recognizing state leaders who champion legislation that protects the First Amendment rights of public-sector workers,” Rogers said. “Representative Teuscher and Senator Dickey took on difficult fights because they understand that public employees deserve a meaningful voice, transparent representation and the freedom to make their own workplace decisions.”
Each recipient received a striking, functional Liberty Bell award designed for display—and made to ring. The bell serves as a lasting symbol of constitutional freedom and the importance of ensuring workers’ voices are heard.
Teuscher called it “the coolest looking award I’ve ever seen,” while Dickey described it as “beautiful” and immediately said it would be displayed on his desk.
Utah Rep. Jordan Teuscher
Teuscher received the first Worker Freedom Award in recognition of his leadership on Utah House Bill 267 and his commitment to transparency, employee choice and constitutional freedom at work.
HB 267 grew out of concerns Teuscher heard from teachers, police officers and other public employees who were not union members but felt excluded from decisions affecting their workplaces. The legislation represented a multiyear effort to establish stronger guardrails around public-sector union practices, including collective bargaining, dues collection, taxpayer-funded union activity and worker representation.
Although Teuscher worked with Utah union representatives to pursue a compromise, national union organizations intervened and helped finance a referendum campaign against the legislation. Facing a public debate increasingly shaped by misinformation, Teuscher made the unusual and difficult decision to advance the repeal of his own legislation, reset the conversation and continue working toward a durable solution for Utah’s public employees.
“It takes real leadership for someone to step up, do the right thing at the beginning and sit down and have those tough conversations,” Rogers told Teuscher during the presentation. “Leadership is doing the right thing, even when it’s the tough thing to do.”
Rogers presented the award with the following recognition:
“Representative Teuscher, in recognition of your leadership on HB 267 and your commitment to transparency, employee choice and constitutional freedom at work, AFFT is honored to present you with the 2026 Worker Freedom Award.”
Teuscher said the Liberty Bell would be placed “front and center” as he continues working on public-sector labor issues.
“That’s what this is all about,” Teuscher said. “Trying to give workers fair treatment, give them a voice in the process and take care of our public employees.”
Iowa Sen. Adrian Dickey
Dickey received the second Worker Freedom Award in recognition of his leadership in passing Iowa Senate File 472, legislation designed to ensure public employees receive the representation recertification process required under state law.
Dickey explained that Iowa law requires public employees to periodically decide whether they wish to continue being represented by a union. However, recertification elections could not occur when public employers failed to submit the required employee information to the state. According to Dickey, the required process was not taking place in approximately half of eligible cases, leaving workers without an opportunity to express their preference.
Senate File 472 created an enforcement mechanism to hold public employers accountable when they fail to provide the information necessary for a recertification election. The law allows the issue to be brought before a district court through an expedited process and places potential legal costs and penalties on employers that do not comply.
“This was not an anti-union bill,” Dickey said during his conversation with Rogers. “It was a voice for the employees. It was their ability to say whether they want representation or not.”
Rogers presented Dickey’s award with the following recognition:
“Senator Dickey, in recognition of your leadership in passing Senate File 472 and protecting public employees’ right to a fair and accountable representation process, AFFT is honored to present you with the 2026 Worker Freedom Award.”
Dickey said the legislation is ultimately about giving public employees a voice while ensuring all parties follow the law.
“This legislation has just given the people a voice,” Dickey said. “We’re happy to continue to move along these lines with things that are pro-worker and just keeping everybody accountable.”
“The Liberty Bell is a fitting symbol for this award because freedom depends on people having a voice,” Rogers said. “Representative Teuscher and Senator Dickey listened to public employees, confronted powerful opposition and kept the focus where it belongs, on protecting the rights of individual workers.”
